Chapter 2

The chase had taken them into the narrow maze of back alleys behind the more populated square. The two agents ran at an impressive and practiced 'suspect pursuing' pace with Sam leading by a few inches, G following in step closely behind.

Like most back alleyways in Los Angeles there were an abundance of obstacles to hinder their path. Some of the backstreets were narrow, others were lined with trashcans, scattered piles of debris and shattered glass bottles. Nothing hindered their pace as they rushed on; Callen even thought that they were finally gaining on the quick footed man.

Callen watched Sam pass easily through a four way cross in front of him, G also caught the way Sam glanced to the side and jumped to get out of the way of something. There was a high pitched and frantic squeal of mistreated breaks as G stepped out in front of an SUV. The vehicle slammed into G, sending him to the un-kept blacktop. Dazed G heard Sam call out his name, but Callen was already getting back up onto his feet, the movement painfully slow.

"I'm good," G groaned as Sam started towards him, straightening stiffly. He waved his partner off, "Go!" He motioned with his head in the direction their suspect headed, "I'll catch up."

Sam nodded hesitantly but dutifully took off again at an increased speed, desperately trying to make up the lost distance between him and the suspect.

"Oh my God!" The driver, a young redheaded girl cried out as she exited her now dented vehicle. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you, no one ever…you just…all of a sudden." She was shaking and breathing in sharp panicked gasps, clearly in shock of hitting someone. "The breaks, my grandpa was going to get them fixed today. I…are you alright? I'm so, so sorry!"

Callen groaned again, feeling a pop in his back as he bent to relieve the pressure, "I'm fine," He assured the hysterical girl. Absently G glanced at the tracks of blood left by a gash he'd received by some glass he'd landed in. "I'm a federal agent, this isn't the first time I've gotten hit by a car chasing a suspect. Don't worry about it." As he spoke he looked back at the girl, than down the lane as Sam disappeared around a corner. G hated leaving the girl in the state she was in, but also didn't want Sam left without backup.

G's body ached, specifically his left side from the initial impact of the vehicle. Pushing the acknowledgment of pain to the forgotten dark corners of his brain, Callen started to run after Sam and the suspect. Limping at first but slowly regaining his natural gait as he picked up the pace to catch up.

At the end of the stretch of alley, Callen stopped and looked around for any sign of Sam or the man they had been chasing. The sharp popping sound of gunfire drew his attention to a building to the left that appeared to be under heavy construction. From where he stood Callen saw that a large stretch of wall on the third floor was missing, lined with plastic sheeting. Holding his sig comfortably in his hand G took a breath, hurrying forward.

G tried not to think that he might be to late in protecting his partner. "Sam!" He called when he pushed passed the plastic sheeting over the door. It was darker inside, the power hadn't yet been wired into its skeleton like walls.

Hearing motion upstairs Callen moved towards the staircase and dashed up two steps at a time. The second floor was silent and before G could move to clear it voices sounded from the floor above him. "Sam!" He barked, arriving to the third floor. The booming sound of a gunshot filled the space, causing G to duck down behind the stairway. He heard the bullet hit the wood near where he had just been standing.

Lifting his head, and the gun in his hands he checked the area, mostly obscured by more plastic sheeting hanging from the ceiling. It was a maze of its own, making visibility shallow at best. Carefully G left the safety of the stairway and moved along the wall to glance around the first section of foggy plastic. Sam stood there in the open space with his gun in hand, ready to fire. G figured his partner was clearing the room as well, looking for the one who had fired the weapon.

Leaving the protection of the plastic to reveal himself to his partner to avoid being shot. Sam's gun flinched at the movement, aim swinging towards G and his trigger finger squeezing off a shot. Lucky enough for Callen he was very familiar with Sam's poster when he was about to fire his gun and G managed to drop fast enough that the bullet only skimmed across his back. It was only a graze, but it burned, searing pain causing the stoic man to grunt as he rushed and ducked behind another plastic wall.

"What the hell Sam?" Callen hissed, cold with the realization that Sam might have been hit with the drug. Another shot fired, going to the right of where G now stood. Talking to his friend in this state probably wasn't the best idea. Taking in a calming breath Callen tried to think of a way out of this mess. His best friend, his comrade was off his head, around the bend and talking was only received with gunfire.

"I really hate Halloween," G muttered to himself, so quietly he counted on Sam not over hearing the words. He needed a plan, or this was going to end very badly, for the both of them.

Ha, okay so I underestimated how much studying I really need to do for this test. So I will be completing this story tomorrow! My apologies, I hope you have a happy and safe Halloween!

Strawberry.

PS: Reviews and Reviewers are Loved. ^^